New York - According to The NPD Group's Retail Tracking Service, Bluetooth headphone revenue overtook non-Bluetooth for the first time in June accounting for 54 percent of headphone dollar sales and 17 percent of unit sales in the U.S.
While the headphone category saw a 7 percent year-over-year increase in dollar sales for the first half of 2016, Bluetooth headphones saw double-digit growth with a 42 percent year-over-year increase in dollar sales for the first half of the year.
Beats and LG have led the Bluetooth headphone market throughout the first half of the year, accounting for approximately 65 percent of dollar sales. The following brands are the top five in the industry in Bluetooth headphone sales:
Top Selling Bluetooth Headphone Brands Ranked by Dollar Sales
| Rank by Dollar Sales | Brand Name |
| 1 | Beats |
| 2 | LG |
| 3 | Bose |
| 4 | Jaybird |
| 5 | Skullcandy |
Source: The NPD Group/Retail Tracking Service/six months ending June 2016
Decreasing average sales prices have helped to grow Bluetooth headphone sales. The average price for the first half of 2016 decreased 5 percent compared to the year prior. Additionally, nearly 30 percent of Bluetooth headphones sold in the first half of the year were less than or equal to $50, compared to 16 percent in the first half of 2015.
“Promotions and new product introductions have helped spur the growth we are seeing in Bluetooth headphones,” said Ben Arnold, executive director, industry analyst for The NPD Group. “Consumers are already embracing a wireless future and if, as rumored, the headphone jack is removed from the next iPhone, we expect this will continue to drive market share of the Bluetooth category.”
